Coleman Octagon 98 8-Person Outdoor Tent

What We Think

The Coleman Octagon 98 is a yurt-style cabin tent built for families who want to stand up, spread out, and feel like they're glamping without the glamping price tag.

It scored a 7.5 overall, earning high marks for livability and setup simplicity while showing typical budget-tent limitations in materials and weather protection.

The octagonal footprint and near-vertical walls create a genuinely different camping experience than traditional dome or cabin designs, though that distinctive shape comes with tradeoffs worth understanding.

Space & Comfort

The 169 square feet of floor space and 82-inch peak height make this tent feel less like camping shelter and more like a small room.

That 6'10" ceiling height is the standout spec here, and owners consistently call it out as the tent's best feature, with several noting they can change clothes comfortably without the usual tent crouch.

The included room divider lets you split the space for privacy, which families with older kids will appreciate.

If you're comparing options in this size range, our guide to the best cabin tents covers the full landscape.

This dimension scored an 8.5 in Space & Comfort.

Ease of Use

Coleman's color-coded steel pole system makes the 15-minute setup time realistic even for first-timers.

Owners consistently report that solo setup is genuinely doable, with several mentioning they pitched it alone on their first attempt without watching a video.

The hinged door is a small detail that owners love, eliminating the fumbling-with-zippers dance when your hands are full of camp chairs or sleeping kids.

The Ozark Trail 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent sets up faster with its pre-attached poles and costs $73 less, but you sacrifice the Octagon's headroom and unique layout.

This dimension scored an 8.0 in Ease of Use.

Weather Resistance

The 68D polyester rainfly with standard Coleman weatherproofing handles typical campground rain without issue.

However, the high-profile octagonal walls catch wind in ways that lower-profile designs don't, making this a fair-weather tent rather than a storm shelter.

A recurring frustration in negative reviews is that the window flaps can only be closed from outside the tent, meaning someone gets wet if rain starts at 2 AM.

This is the tent's most significant design flaw and a genuine inconvenience that Coleman should have addressed.

This dimension scored a 7.0 in Weather Resistance.

Quality & Durability

The steel pole frame is sturdy and inspires confidence during setup.

The 68D polyester floor is thinner than we'd like at this price, so a footprint or ground tarp is smart insurance on rocky sites.

Multiple owners flag that the included carry case is undersized and flimsy, with some reporting tears after just a few uses.

The Browning Big Horn 8 Person Tent costs $138 more but uses heavier fabrics throughout if durability is your priority.

This dimension scored a 6.5 in Quality & Durability.

User Reviews

Owner feedback runs notably positive at 8.7, with the most common praise centered on the livable interior space and genuinely easy setup.

The quick color-coded assembly and hinged door appear in positive reviews repeatedly.

Negative patterns cluster around the outside-only window flaps and the fragile carry case rather than fundamental tent failures.

Who It's For

This tent fits families who car camp in fair weather and want a basecamp that feels spacious rather than cramped.

The yurt-style layout works well for groups who'll spend time inside the tent, not just sleep in it.

If you're comparing across Coleman's lineup, our breakdown of the best Coleman tents can help you find the right match.

The Bottom Line

The Coleman Octagon 98 delivers genuinely impressive livability at $212, with headroom and floor space that punch above its price class.

It scored a 7.5 overall.

Accept the outside-only window flaps as a real inconvenience, pack a footprint, and this becomes an excellent fair-weather family tent.